Women's Wellness Specialist

Protecting women’s wellness is the top priority of the providers at Fairfax OB-GYN Associates in Fair Oaks, Gainesville, Woodbridge, and Dulles, Virginia. They have a team of physicians, midwives, and imaging specialists dedicated to providing the comprehensive preventive care women need. Contact them or book an appointment online to learn about their well woman services and the convenience of on-site bone density screening and lab services.

Women's Wellness Q & A

Why should women get regular preventive checkups?

Regular preventive checkups are the best way to stay well and prevent disease. With routine care, small signs and subtle symptoms can be identified early enough to stop them from turning into major health problems.

You can use the time during a preventive visit to ask questions about any concerns you have. Whether you’re worried about diet and exercise, a relationship problem, or you’d like to learn about aesthetic procedures to rejuvenate your appearance, a preventive checkup gives you time to talk with your provider at Fairfax OB-GYN Associates.

What services are provided during a well woman exam?

During a well woman exam, which is a preventive checkup, your provider updates your health information, checks your blood pressure and weight, and orders blood tests as needed based on your age and health. Some women may need to have their cholesterol and blood sugar levels checked, while others may need more extensive tests.

One of the most important goals of a well woman exam is assessing your risk for chronic diseases. Conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease can be prevented with lifestyle changes when they’re caught at an early stage.

These services are commonly included in a well woman exam:

Pelvic exam

Breast exam

Pap test for cervical cancer

Human papillomavirus (HPV) test

Birth control

Preconception planning

Nutrition counseling

Menopause treatment

Testing for sexually transmitted diseases

What routine health screenings do women need?

Your provider at Fairfax OB-GYN Associates lets you know which health screenings you may need based on your age and overall health. The following tests are important for all women:

Bone mineral density test: At any age, women are more likely to develop osteoporosis if they don’t get enough calcium, they’ve had weight loss surgery, or have inflammatory bowel disease. However, all women are at a high risk for osteoporosis after menopause. That’s why women should have a bone mineral density test -- a DEXA test -- at Fairfax OB-GYN Associates when they reach menopause.

Mammogram to test for breast cancer: Women should consider getting a mammogram at the age of 40, or no later than age 50, and continue getting a mammogram every one to two years until age 75.

Meet Sue Mersch, one of our Midwives:

Sue’s mission is to inspire, educate, and empower you to enjoy better health so you can create the possibility of living an extraordinary life filled with vitality, passion, and love. She is passionately committed to making a significant contribution to this world by creating healthier lives and a healthier planet for generations to come.

Sue Mersch is a Certified Nurse Midwife who received her bachelor’s degree from Rush University in Chicago, and her Masters of Science degree from the University of Illinois, Chicago with a specialty in Midwifery. She has been in women’s health care and the health & wellness industry for over 30 year. Before becoming a Midwife, Sue was a labor & delivery nurse and childbirth educator of the Bradley Method. She resigned from catching babies and sees obstetrical and gynecological clients at the Woodbridge office. She loves working with teens and young adults; but she also understands that the perimenopause and menopause period is an especially tumultuous time for women, she can guide you through this new stage of life with courage and integrity.

Sue believes our physical and emotional health and the quality of life we experience are intertwined – and when balanced, you experience more vitality, happiness, and peace. Food is medicine and she offers a whole-food based 5 week structured health building cleansing program that detoxifies the body without fasting or using stimulants. She helps you identify and manage your food sensitivities, lifestyle triggers and traps, and your eating patterns. And if weight loss is necessary, Sue will support you with the 180 program. In addition to whole foods and alternative therapies, she partnered with the No. 1 natural nutritional supplement company so that the supplements she recommends are safe, pure and they work – guaranteed.

Your health concerns are unique. The ideal wellness plan is one that is designed specifically to help you achieve optimal results. Take the 20 question, 5 minute personalized Healthprint and receive a diet and activity score to create a customized nutrition plan for you. https://suemersch.myshaklee.com/us/en/healthprint

Being in nature rejuvenates Sue whether she is either running, biking, hiking, or kayaking. She also loves flying back to her hometown, Chicago, to visit her son, Eric.

Major Insurance Providers Accepted

Fairfax OB-GYN accepts most major insurance plans. Please call any of our offices to inquire about your particular insurance. We also accept self-pay patients and out of network patients and would be glad to assist you in arranging for payment of services. After services are provided, we will be glad to file claims to your insurance company on your behalf. We will assist you in making sure that your insurance pays us timely and appropriately for services we have provided to you. However, please know that ultimately you are financially responsible for payment of bills incurred. Any patient who schedules an appointment and fails to keep that appointment without providing 24 hour notice of cancellation will be responsible for a $100 no show fee. Any inquiries should be directed to the Billing Department at (703) 391-1500.